The Agroecology and Circular Economy for Ecosystem Services (ACE4ES) began as a pioneering multi-stakeholder project coordinated by the CSIR-Crops Research Institute and its partners across Ghana, Benin, Nigeria, and beyond. Launched with the support of the Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC) and other regional and international collaborators, the initiative was designed to integrate agroecology and circular economy practices into farming systems while generating credible evidence for greenhouse gas mitigation, sustainable food production, and rural livelihoods.

Over time, ACE4ES became a regional reference point—establishing the Multicultural Technology Park (MTP) at Fumesua, Ghana, as a living laboratory for composting, biochar, rotational grazing, integrated rice-duck-fish systems, biogas, Black Soldier Fly (BSF) and waste valorisation and advanced emissions monitoring. Its work connected research with farmers’ indigenous knowledge, informed policy dialogue, and demonstrated that agriculture can simultaneously support food security, ecosystem services, and climate action.Building on this foundation, ACE4ES has now transitioned into a fully incorporated independent research and development organisation.

This transformation provides the legal and institutional framework to scale innovations across West Africa and beyond, mobilize new partnerships, and expand capacity for training, policy engagement, and technology transfer.Today, ACE4ES’s mandate reflects both continuity and renewal:• Advancing agroecology to restore soil health, conserve biodiversity, and strengthen food sovereignty.•

Promoting circular economy solutions that turn agricultural and community waste into resources for energy, fertilizer, and resilient farming systems.• Mitigating super pollutants—including methane, black carbon, nitrous oxide, and tropospheric ozone—through science-based innovations and farmer-led practices that improve air quality and deliver measurable climate benefits.With a strengthened management team and a clear regional mission, ACE4ES stands as a hub for innovation, capacity building, and policy coherence, committed to shaping resilient, low-emission, and inclusive food systems for Africa and the world.